The hole Texas (15-12, 7-7 Big 12) dug for itself in the first half was a bit too deep to escape from.

Suspended senior guard and leading scorer Kerwin Roach II looked on from the sideline as Oklahoma (17-10, 5-9) pummeled Texas for the first 20 minutes in Norman, Okla. The lead swelled to 17 points with 2:53 remaining as the Sooners dissected UT’s defense with a series of sharp cuts and precision passing.

Saturday’s loss in Norman, Okla., further solidified the Longhorns’ status as a bubble dweller. With four regular-season games remaining and Roach’s status uncertain, Texas has some serious work left to do to earn an at-large big to this year’s NCAA tournament.

1. Texas spent the first half on offense continuously running into a wall.

The Longhorns’ Sisyphean struggle to score in the first half played a huge role in its demise.

Oklahoma sat in a zone and dared Texas to shoot over the top. The result: Texas shot 9 of 27 overall and 6 of 16 from behind the arc. The seven turnovers that became 13 Oklahoma points only made matters worse.

Roach is persistent threat to penetrate and he’s grown tremendously as both a finisher and passer on the move. With their best slasher and scorer sitting in street clothes, the Longhorns struggled to break the Sooners’ zone.

Every dribble drive or post up was turned back. So Texas took the easy way out and hoisted three after three. The 6-for-16 showing looked more meaningful on paper than in practice as Oklahoma turned long rebounds into fast-break scoring opportunities.

Forwards Dylan Osetkowski and Jaxson Hayes were virtual non-factors. The duo combined for just four points on 0 of 3 shooting with one assist and two turnovers as they struggled to establish position in the post.

Smart even inserted seldom seen freshman swingman Gerald Liddell in the hopes he could infuse some energy on both ends. He finished with one foul and one turnover in three minutes.

It was troubling how rudderless Texas looked without Roach for the first 20 minutes. Smart told the Austin American-Statesman Roach could return this season, but that decision can only be made by the school.

2. Texas finally switched gears at halftime and returned to its bread and butter. Then the bigs started rolling.

Texas guards Matt Coleman and Courtney Ramey finally started making some headway in the second half.

Rather than heave threes and hope for some to fall, the pair began slicing through the zone and better utilizing the pick-and-roll to create separation.

The increased involvement of Jaxson Hayes and Dylan Osetkowski wore down the Sooners and allowed Texas to stage a furious comeback.

Hayes again demonstrated how far he has come since joining the team last summer. He flashed a soft touch on a turnaround hook shot in the post and scored six straight points midway through the second half to help build some momentum.

Fellow big Osetkowski scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half on a steady diet of post touches and a sprinkling of offensive rebounds.

In the midst of UT’s offensive revival, Osetkowski spun off Oklahoma forward Matt Freeman and rose up for a two-handed dunk to pull Texas within single digits for the first time since the game’s early stages.

And Osetkowski made what could have been the defensive play of the game had the ensuing possession turned out better. He jumped in front of guard Christian James' entry pass to forward Brady Manek and forced a turnover with 37 seconds remaining.

But the Longhorns couldn’t find any gaps in the defense, leaving sophomore Jase Febres to put up a desperate go-ahead 3-point try that barely grazed the rim.

3. Jaxson Hayes is smashing through the freshman wall.

Hayes has been plagued by foul trouble all season and he looked to be following a similar script in this game. He picked up an offensive foul 11 seconds in and played 14 more frustrating minutes trying to avoid a second.

But credit Hayes for the resolve and discipline he showed as Oklahoma came after him with waves of bigs and attacking guards all eager to lure him into another foul.

Hayes did eventually pick up a fourth foul with 5:07 remaining, but his activity and alertness in the second half allowed Texas to climb back into the game. After shooting 56.7 percent in the first half and hitting 6 of 9 3-pointers, Oklahoma was held to 39.3 percent and an 0-for-5 showing from deep over the final 20 minutes.

The Longhorns’ guards did an excellent job of funneling the ball toward Hayes, and he showed some excellent instincts springing to action as a help-side defender.

The 6-foot-11 freshman was credited with six blocks. He altered at least a dozen.

Hayes finished the game with 12 points on 5 of 6 shooting and six rebounds.